Social Security
Three ways to supplement your retirement savings
Millions of Americans face the reality of spending their senior years in straitened circumstances, struggling to make ends meet. However, if you are one of those individuals who are low on retirement savings, all is not lost. Maurie Backman explains…
Social Security and the Debt Limit Fight
There’s been quite a bit of back-and-forth about the upcoming negotiations on the federal debt ceiling, and much of it had to do with whether or not Social Security (and Medicare, for that matter) were factors in the arguments. In…
The Logic Behind Raising the Full Retirement Age
Although it appears to be developing into somewhat of a political football, the issue of increasing the Social Security full retirement age has a rational perspective. A recent forbes.com post by senior contributor Chris Carosa takes a look at the…
Social Security’s Lump-Sum Payment Provision
Marcia Mantell, RMA®, NSSA®, in a post on thestreet.com, provides a bit of history associated with Social Security’s often misunderstood lump-sum benefit provision. Her post explains the 6-month lump-sum payout available to claimants electing to start their benefits at (or…
Taking a Look at Secure 2.0 and what the Provisions Mean to Some Seniors
The Secure 2.0 package signed into law kast December has several key provisions intended to aid seniors in the management of their retirement finances. One of the basic features is a delay, for those turning 72 this year, of the…
Claiming Benefits Early…Sometimes There’s a Good Reason
For those approaching the early age for Social Security retirement benefits, it can be a big decision, especially for anyone struggling to remain financially afloat. Waiting beyond the earliest available filing age, of course, results in a slightly higher check…
An Argument for Uncapping the Maximum Taxable Earnings
Social Security’s looming solvency problem is, as expected, creating a groundswell of attention publicly these days, as well as an increasing focus in the 118th Congress. As a result of this heightened interest, we’re seeing a growing number of articles…
“Leaked” Thoughts on Social Security Reform
The Motley Fool’s Keith Speights, in a post on their website, reports on a series of ideas reportedly being discussed by several lawmakers with respect to Social Security reform. First on his list is the controversial thought of changing the…
How an Ex-Spouse’s Work Record can Influence One’s Benefit Amount
The Social Security rules on spousal benefits in a divorce situation can seem a bit complex, but the basic premise is that divorced spouses can receive a benefit based on their ex-spouses’ work record. And if the ex-spouses’ work record…
Bipartisan Group Advocates for Language to Encourage Deferred Filing
In a letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA), a group of U.S. Senators is recommending several terminology changes aimed at promoting the advantages of waiting to claim retirement benefits. Specifically, the group is advocating for more descriptive labeling for…